UKPA Class of 1984 Celebrate 40-year Reunion
By Ryan Clark
CHS Communication Director
Every five years the members of the UK Physician Assistant Class of 1984 like to meet up and see how their classmates are doing.
But this year was a little more special — after all, it’s been 40 years since they graduated.
“The whole weekend was marvelous!” said Patrick Cafferty, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA and Associate Professor Emeritus, as well as the Founding Chair and Director of the Physician Assistant Program at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. But before all of that, he was a student in that 1984 class.
“We have met every five years, and we seem to pick up where we left off!” he said. “We caught up on our lives, remembered our classmates that have passed away and told stories of our time at UK.”
Over the Oct. 11 weekend, the UKPA Class of 1984 met up to celebrate their reunion by going to Keeneland and taking in a UK football game. They also engaged in intimate dinners at each other’s houses, “which allowed us to mingle and catch up with friends,” Cafferty said.
“It was great to be back in Lexington and to see how much it has changed!” he continued. “Both the campus and the city are much larger now. The biggest surprise/disappointment was the UK (football) loss against Vanderbilt!”
It all adds up to why it’s important to be here for these alumni, said Virginia Valentin, DrPH and PA-C, as well as an Associate Professor who serves as the Department Chair for the Department of Physician Assistant studies.
“As a college we are nothing without our alumni,” she said. “Our alumni, our people, are what our future is built on. For our alumni of 40 years to want to celebrate with UK and to be a part of the future of UK is remarkable. I truly look forward to when we have our new building and a great space for alumni to come and gather.”
But why should we continue to cultivate these relationships?
“Because we can’t do it alone,” Valentin said. “We need our alumni to be preceptors, mentors and teachers, which is what these alumni have done. This alumni group that graduated 40 years ago include a retired PA program director, (Cafferty) and one of my mentors, Deb Croucher. These people are such great examples of the excellence that comes from UK, CHS and PAS.
“I personally have seen how both of these individuals work to develop the next generation of PAs,” she continued. “These PA leaders are making a difference each day through mentoring and training future PAs.”
And — not far into the future — will Cafferty be looking forward to the 50th anniversary?
“Absolutely!” he said. “Hopefully we will do something much sooner!”